There was a clatter of footsteps on the stairs and Laurence, a telegraph form in his hand, burst into the room.
"What you haf there?"
"Can't make head nor tail of the damn thing. Read it aloud," cried
Laurence excitedly.
Ezra Hipps moved over to his Chief's side as the old man picked out the code words and translated them aloud.
The message was simple enough.
"'Saw Barraclough Polperro this morning. Been following all day.
Escaped in Panhard, probably will enter London by Portsmouth or Great
Western Road. Am pursuing in Ford car. Obstruct. Harrison Smith.'"
It was handed in at eight o'clock and postmarked Wimborne.
"Saw Barraclough!" repeated Hipps. "Harrison Smith's gone crazy."
For a moment Van Diest said nothing, then remarked:
"Smart man, you know. Smart man."